In a critical move to curb a concerning rise in measles cases and fatalities, the government has launched a nationwide emergency Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign.

The initiative aims to immunize approximately 18 million children aged between 6 months and 59 months.

The campaign was officially inaugurated on Monday, April 20, by the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain.

The opening ceremony took place at 8:15 AM at the 'Little Angel Seminary' in Zinda Park, located in the Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj.

Campaign Logistics and Schedule
Vaccinations will be administered daily from 8:00 AM at all permanent and temporary immunization centers, excluding weekly holidays.

To ensure maximum coverage, local government and private institutions across districts, upazilas, municipalities, and city corporations are organizing localized launch events featuring public representatives and community leaders.

The campaign timeline is structured as follows:

• Nationwide Special Campaign: Runs until May 12 in most areas, and until May 20 within City Corporation zones.
• Phase 1 (Started April 5): Concludes on April 25.
• Phase 2 (Started April 12): Continues until May 12, covering four major city corporations: Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal, and Mymensingh.

Extensive Coverage
The government has prioritized high-risk zones, targeting 30 upazilas across 18 districts in addition to the major metropolitan hubs.

Health officials emphasized that this massive undertaking is essential for stabilizing the current public health situation and protecting the youngest members of the population from life-threatening complications.